Kalinga Stadium all set with new blue turf for Men’s Hockey World Cup

Bhubaneswar: Kalinga Stadium which is the next destination for Hockey’s biggest spectacle, the Men’s World Cup scheduled to be played in November and December this year, has laid out an all new blue turf for the much-awaited event.

Two new state-of-the-art turfs which have been laid at both the main and the practice grounds inside the stadium have been procured from Germany in accordance with the international standards at an estimated cost of around Rs 10 crore.

According to sources, experts from Australia and New Zealand have taken stock of the new turfs. After necessary water sprinkling and other preparations, a team of International Hockey Federation (FIH) will review the preparations.

Earlier, a blue and a pink turf adorned Kalinga Stadium’s main and practice grounds, respectively during the 2014 Champions Trophy and last year’s World Hockey League Finals.

Speaking on the preparations, Odisha Sports Department Secretary, Vishal Dev said “The turfs have been laid as per the schedule and chair installation at four galleries is underway. The interior works of the newly established galleries and the layout foundation of the new top two floors in the west stand will be completed soon.”

Dev also added that for publicity of Odisha and the mega event, the state government has approved a proposal to ply two buses, one in Central London and another near the venue of the Women’s World Cup, designed specially on the theme of the event.